William Paget, 1st Baron Paget

William Paget, 1st Baron Paget (1506-9 June 1563) was Secretary of State of England from 1543 to 1548, Comptroller of the Household from 1547 to 1550, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 1547 to 1552, and Lord Privy Seal from 1555 to 1558.

Biography
William Paget was born in Wednesbury, Staffordshire, England in 1506, the son of one of the sergeants-at-mace of the City of London. He was educated at St. Paul's School; Trinity Hall, Cambridge; and the University of Paris, and he befriended the future antiquary John Leland at St. Paul's. He was elected as a Member of Parliament for Lichfield in 1529 and for Middlesex in 1545, and his appointment to several court positions was owed to his friend, the powerful Bishop Stephen Gardiner. He served as Secretary of State from 1543 to 1548, Comptroller of the Household from 1547 to 1550, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 1547 to 1552, and Lord Privy Seal from 1555 to 1558, and he was an initial supporter of Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, although he advocated moderate views. He shared Somerset's disgrace, being sent to the Tower of London in 1551. In 1553, however, he was restored to King Edward VI of England's favor, and he accepted Lady Jane Grey as queen before later making peace with Queen Mary of England. He retired from public life after Queen Elizabeth I of England acceded to the throne in 1558, and he died in 1563.